Archives

Posts Tagged ‘dentist Nassau County’

There are a number of factors that can influence your risk for dental disease. Many of these factors can be controlled, such as your diet, your oral hygiene habits, and the frequency of your routine dental visits. There are some factors, however, that you may have been born with which are also known to affect your general oral health.

On your own, it would be difficult to determine your risk for dental disease. That’s why routine dental visits are vitally important. Your dentist has the expertise to determine your level of risk for various dental diseases, as well as customize an oral hygiene regime that is appropriate for you. It is important to remember that, though genetics can influence your risk for cavities or gum disease, these conditions can still be prevented with proper care.

Cavities, one of the most common dental diseases, are caused by the acids which are produced by very specific bacteria. From birth, some of us are born with higher levels of these bacteria, presenting a lifetime challenge of fighting tooth decay.

Ideally, saliva is our first line of defense against the acidic environment created by these bacteria. When the natural composition of the saliva is not effective at neutralizing these acids, the risk for tooth decay rises significantly.

Similar to the presence of cavity-causing bacteria, studies show that it is also possible to inherit high levels of the bacteria that cause gum disease. With these bacteria residing in or around the gum tissue, the fight against gum disease becomes a lifelong commitment.

In addition to the inherited composition of your bacterial plaque and saliva, the anatomy of your teeth may also be an inherited factor that influences your oral health. For many of us, the shape and alignment of our teeth are often passed down from our parents. Teeth that have very deep grooves or teeth that are crowded together can be more difficult to clean, increasing the risk for both cavities and gum disease.

While genetics have been shown to play a role in your overall dental health, it is still possible to fight poor dental health with help from your dentist. Find out which plan of attack is right for you by contacting East Hills Dental Associates, serving Nassau County and surrounding areas, for an examination today.

If you have been experiencing frequent headaches, neck pain, or tension near the ears and temples, you may have assumed that the pain was just the normal result of a stressful life. Family situations, workplace challenges, financial concerns, and even rigorous exercise routines are the source of much of the stress in our lives.

Ideally, if you could simply make the stress go away, perhaps the headaches and tension would disappear also. Unfortunately, while some types of stress can occur periodically, other forms of stress become a regular part of our lives. As the tension is allowed to manifest, you may not realize that it can affect your jaw joint (TMJ) as well as your bite.

With help from a dentist who has experience in treating bite-related TMJ Disorders and associated problems, you may be able to find relief from your discomfort even when the source of the stress cannot be eliminated. Seeking professional help rather than purchasing an over-the-counter bite guard is the best way to ensure that the condition is being treated properly.

For patients who have suffered with an existing bite-related or TMJ disorder, stress can exaggerate the condition. For those patients who may not have experienced bite-related problems in the past, stress can trigger the onset of such conditions. Both physical and mental stress can lead to increased tension and stress on the joint. It can also contribute to constant clenching and grinding of the teeth, a habit that can damage the joint as well as the teeth, gums, and underlying bone structure.

Popping, clicking, and pain in the jaw joint should never be ignored. Identifying the source of the discomfort and seeking the appropriate solution is essential to finding relief and protecting your health.

For a consultation with our dentist, who has extensive training in craniomandibular disorders and is one of the most respected TMJ specialty practitioners in the world, call the office of Dr. Richard Sousa, serving Nassau County, at 516-484-6600 today to schedule a consultation.

In days gone by, when a patient required X-rays as part of their treatment, a dentist would use now-archaic machinery which exposed the patient and dental surgery staff to higher doses of radiation. Not only did this present a hazard to peoples’ health, it was also a slow and time-consuming process, as the X-ray required to be developed.

X-rays are used by dentists to examine areas of the teeth and mouth that might otherwise be concealed from a normal visual examination and can reveal problems that might exist beneath a tooth’s enamel, gum-tissue and jaw-bone. Today’s advancements in dental technology and the introduction of digital X-rays allow for the dentist to take X-rays faster, safer and easier than was previously allowed.

Digital X-rays don’t require film, and so the result of the X-ray is captured electronically onto a computer screen. This helps expedite the procedure and also eliminates the need for chemicals, and the dentist can view the results of the X-ray just a few moments after it has been taken.

And because the digital X-ray uses far less radiography than older X-rays, there is much less exposure to potentially harmful radiation for the patient, which in turns helps to protect the patient’s health.

Another advantage of digital X-rays is that the captured image can be manipulated to show different angles or enlarged to focus on specific areas. This can help the dentist spot potential problems early, such as early signs of cavities, that might be overlooked or missed through a normal check-up.

Digital X-rays can be used by dentists for both intra-oral and extra-oral examinations in order to assess both the teeth themselves, but also the entire mouth and structure of the jaw in great detail, and can provide valuable insight into the oral health of the patient.

And, if digital X-rays require to be shared with other oral specialists, such as a periodontist, then they can be sent securely via secure email, as opposed to requiring to be sent via special courier; meaning the patient can receive the right treatment faster than was previously available.

Digital radiography offers a safe, speedy and efficient alternative to traditional X-ray methods. By protecting the patient’s health and providing deep insight into the patient’s oral health, digital X-rays have become the top choice of dentists around the world when it comes to accurately screening a patient’s teeth and mouth.

To learn more about the benefits of digital X-rays and to schedule your next exam in Nassau County, contact East Hills Dental Associates at 516-484-6600.